Ultimate Female Travel Packing List for Hawaii (in summer)

Hawaii is the tropical paradise I’d always dreamed of, so when I visited this summer, I knew I had to pack according to how many islands I would be visiting and what types of activities I would be doing. On my trip, I visited Oahu, Big Island and Kaua’i. While some visitors are content to spend their entire trip lying on the beach, there is lots of exploring to do for the more adventurous travelers. Spend some time in the famed national parks, climbing to waterfalls, surfing and visiting active volcanoes. This packing list should be suitable for two weeks of inter-island travel in Hawaiian summer.

Clothing:

3 dresses – For nice dinners and using as swimsuit cover ups. Try the Infinity Skirt on for size.2 pairs of shorts – Better suited for hiking and more adventurous activities.2 tank tops or T-shirts – If you don’t pack enough, there’s plenty of shopping in Waikiki to fill up your suitcase.1 pair of jeans – This one is a judgment call. It got rather cold and windy on my day at Volcanoes National Park and I was glad I had them.2 bras – I usually pack one nude bra and one black bra and it seems to fit my wardrobe well.5 pairs of underwear – Maybe less if you have access to laundry facilities or are packing ExOfficio underwear.1 light jacket – You may not expect to get cold in Hawaii in summer, but it gets very breezy, especially near the coast.1 windbreaker/rain jacket – Hawaii has the craziest weather. One minute it can be sunny and one minute it will be raining.2 swimsuits – Following the wear one, wash one pattern, two should last you the entire trip.Towel – I didn’t bring one with me, but instead bought one for $5 at one of the many tourist shops.Sarong – Good to use as a beach cover up or towel.

Shoes:

Closed toed walking shoes – Many activities, like helicopter tours, require sturdy shoes, and they’re also good for hiking in the national parks.Flip flops – For a day at the beach or for hostel dorms.Nice flats or sandals – For a nice dinner in town.

Toiletries:

Shampoo/Conditioner – Travel sized and TSA friendly. Soap or Body Wash – I brought body wash instead, but soap is usually easier to pack if you’re flying carry-on only. Toothbrush/Paste – Also get a snap-on case so you don’t get anything on your toothbrush.Deodorant – Keep yourself smelling nice!Razor – You only need one.Brush – Travel sized worked for me.Hair ties – Necessary to keep the hair off your neck on those hot days. Motion Sickness Medicine – Depending on what you are doing, this can be very handy for helicopter rides, boat tours and flights between islands.Sunscreen – I cannot reiterate this enough! I got seriously burned on my first day there because I was mostly in the shade and didn’t put any on. Find out more sun protection ideas in this beach travel pack list.Birth Control – You can never be too safe.Diva Cup – The last thing you want on your trip is to be tied down by lady products. The Diva Cup is ideal for this trip since you will be active and won’t always have time to change. Prescriptions – If you forget anything, there’s Walgreens on nearly every corner, just be sure to bring all your paperwork.

Protection from the Elements:

Sunscreen – It’s probably better to buy when you get there because of TSA liquid regulations.Hat – Keep yourself from getting sunburned and spending the day inside!Sunglasses­ – I brought two pairs, just in case I lose or break one.

Tech Gear:

1 Flashlight/headlamp – For navigating your way through lava tubes.Laptop – I found that many hotels had free wireless internet, as did the Starbucks on every corner of Honolulu.Camera – Capture every rainbow, waterfall and sunset.Underwater case – As I mentioned with my Croatia packing list, my underwater camera case served me well in Hawaii. It’s ideal for scuba divers.Chargers – No converters necessary if you’re coming from the US.Lock – If you’re staying in a hostel, it’s always a good idea to have a lock for your backpack.iPod – Necessary for inter-island flights and lounging by the pool.

Other:

Water bottle – If you’re hiking Honolulu’s Diamond Head crater, a bottle of water is a must, since there is nowhere to get one once you leave the parking lot. I recommend using a refillable plastic one.Books – I went through many books on my trip and bought even more.

Another thing to remember for your trip to Hawaii is that if you are traveling between islands, you will be constantly unpacking and repacking. Traveling with a carry-on was the only option for me since you have to pay to check bags on each leg. Any liquids we had, like sunscreen and shampoo, went in one bag that got checked, with the rest going carry-on.

If you are coming from the mainland United States, you may be subject to quarantine, which protects Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem. You cannot bring plants or fruits without prior consent and if you’re traveling with pets, they will be subject to inspection, which takes additional time at the airport.

American dollars are the currency of choice and most national bank branches are found throughout the islands. While using a credit or debit card may be easier in the cities, some restaurants and the famous North Shore food trucks only accept cash.

Anything else a must-pack for a trip to Hawaii?

Big thanks to Caroline for sharing her Hawaii packing tips! If you’d like to follow more of Caroline’s work, check out her travel blog, Facebook or Twitter @Cairinthecity.

About Brooke

Brooke Schoenman runs the show at Her Packing List. Inspired from years of travel experience, this author of the Brooke vs. the World travel blog decided there needed to be a travel gear site focused on the needs of a wandering female. She is also the creator of Aroamas travel perfume sticks.

Unless you are going to the big island, you will never have need of pants in Hawaii. The only time I ever wore shorts when I lived there was to go hiking. Do yourself a favor and pack sundresses. Or, hit a local Ross (there’s one in every town) when you get there and buy a few lightweight dresses. Cheaper than the tourist shops and a bigger selection. Make sure you pile on the sunscreen and don’t forget to reapply. The sun is much stronger than the mainland and you can pick out the tourists because they are lobster red.

We’re headed to Kaua’i for our honeymoon. Being both pasty white, we’re bringing loads of sunscreen for sure. But we also got UV blocking rash guards for our snorkel trip. I’ve found that when I swim, I can’t reapply the sunscreen enough to not get burned. The rash guard protects my arms, back, and chest, so I only have to worry about my face and legs. If those get burned, it’s way better than all of me. I’d recommend a long-sleeved rash guard if you’re going to be doing a lot of swimming/snorkeling/surfing. There’s a reason surfers wear them!

Just a note: Regarding the statement that “American dollars are the currency of choice”, Hawaii is the 50th state in the United States so the currency system is not any different from the mainland USA. Also the statement “No converters necessary if you’re coming from the US”-Hawaii is not a foreign country so you wouldn’t need converters for your chargers since they are a part of the United States and have the same voltage system. Also the quarantine system in Hawaii is rather strict and your pet needs to meet very strict requirements to be allowed into Hawaii. Please check the State of Hawaii Animal Quarantine information to see the requirements if you are thinking of bringing a pet with you. You probably don’t want to spend your vacation with your pet in quarantine for the duration of your stay.

They make rash guard pants as well if you are concerned about the back of your legs getting burned. It also helpful to have the the shirt and pants when you know you are going to be snorkeling in a shallow reef. Helps protects from cuts!

I like this packing list, but I would never be content bringing only two shirts. This is paradise, so that means pictures, pictures, pictures! I always bring a shirt and shorts for each day that I will be gone…and I didn’t think I was the only one!

Thank you so much for all the helpful hints. My list for packing is almost complete but thought I would check yours to see if there was anything different. I am so HAPPY I did. I forgot about the sunscreen. I would have turned lobster red for sure.

Thank you! My list is quite similar, though to save a bit of money I am bringing reef shoes (water shoes) and goggles. I pack almost all toiletries in gallon sized ziplock bags- in the case that anything bursts open in flight. (In my checked luggage) My first trip I packed much too light- needing to buy clothes for myself was not fun! (Need- not want) Mahalo and Aloha!!!

I would definately bring pants (jeans) if you plan on horseback riding, going to Halealala to watch the sunrise (oftentimes it drops to 40 degrees) or flying in small aircraft.

I bring more hiking clothes/shorts as the rest of them get pretty sweaty and covered with red mud. (I do a ton of hiking on Kauai). For hikes that cross rivers or streams, hiking shoes or boots will not work. I found that keens with closed toe, or chacos or tevas usually work well and dry fast, but I bring two pair to rotate them.

One thing, headbands! Great for keeping the hair blowing off the face. I usually buy a colorful one there.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

[…] For many travelers, this type of clothing gear is just unnecessary. The beach vacation over in Hawaii might simply call for a pair of sandals and a flowy skirt, and if the sandal strap breaks as […]